William Adams was promoted to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy on 22 September 1759
just after the siege of Quebec. At the same time he was appointed captain of HMS
Northumberland, the flagship of Commodore Alexander, Lord Colvill in the North
American squadron. Adams, therefore, joined the ship at about the same time as James Cook
was appointed its master.
Adams had become a lieutenant on 26 March 1750 and a commander on 02 August 1758. On that
date he was given command of the Hunter, a sloop. The
Northumberland returned to Quebec in 1760 as part of the force sent to protect the
city from French forces trying to recapture it. Adams was replaced on 21 September 1760
as captain by Nathaniel Bateman and he was transferred to the Diana. Adams left the
Diana on 25 January 1763 and, according to the book Commissioned sea officers of
the Royal Navy, 1660-1815, he died a few days later on 03 February 1763.
There is, however, a will for a William Adams of Portsea, which was written on 10
September 1763 and proved on 03 January 1764. It is by no means certain that this is the
William Adams connected to Cook. This will is witnessed by Gawler Rickman, who is
mentioned in the will of Charles Clerke, who sailed with Cook, suggesting close links
with naval officers.
The will mentions three children but no wife so she has presumably died earlier. There is
one son, Tomlin, and a birth record exists for him from St. Nicholas Church, Rochester in
Kent (another naval town), dated 10 October 1756 and listing the parents as William and
Martha. The two other children are daughters, Mary and Martha Maria. It may be that
Martha Adams died in childbirth and the third child was named for her. Working back in
time there is a marriage record for William Adams and Martha Thrall at St. Mary's Church,
Portsea for 31 October 1743.
The name appears variously as Atkin, Atkins and Aitken.
Aneas Aitken sailed on Cook's second and third Voyages. He joined the Resolution
for the second voyage on 13 February 1772 as quartermaster. After the voyage, Aitken
spent some time on HMS Favourite before joining the Discovery as
boatswain. He joined on 17 February 1776, having been requested by Charles Clerke:
On 28 October 1778, between Unalaska and Hawai'i, William Harvey recorded:
Aitken was born in Fife in 1742. He died in 1806 when serving on HMS Africa.
Aitken's will records a wife, Mary, and a daughter, Mary Ann. The daughter, Mary Ann,
was born 13 October 1776, just after Aitken had left on Cook's third voyage. She was
baptised on 04 January 1781 at St. Paul's, Deptford after Aitken's return.
First, I recommend my Soul to God that gave it and my Body I commit to the Earth or Sea
as it shall please God to order, and as for and concerning all my worldly Estate I give,
bequeath and dispose thereof as followeth, that is to say -
I give and bequeath unto my beloved Wife, Mary Aitken of Deptford in the County of Kent,
and in case of her death unto my daughter Mary Ann Aitken of the same place, all such
Tickets, prize money, short allowance money, smart money, pensions together with all
Sallary, Wages, Sum and Sums of Money, Lands, Tenements, Goods, Chattels and Estate
whatsoever, as shall be any ways due, owing or belonging unto me at the time of my
decease. I do give, devise and bequeath the same unto my said beloved Wife Mary Aitken
of Deptford in the County of Kent, and in case of her death to my daughter Mary Ann
Aitken of the same place.
And I do hereby Nominate and Appoint the aforesaid Mary Aitken my Wife, and Mary Ann
Aitken my daughter, sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking
all former and other Wills, Testaments and Deeds of Gifts by me at any time heretofore
made, and I do ordain and ratify these presents to stand and be for and as my only last
Will and Testament. On Witness whereof to this my said Will I have set my hand and Seal
the Sixteenth day of August in the year of our Lord, One thousand Seven hundred and
Eighty one, and in the Twenty second year of the Reign of His Majesty King George the
third over Great Britain &c. Aneas Aitken.
Signed, sealed, published and declared in the presence of Thos. Newnham, Captain, Jno.
Chadwick, Master.
This Will was proved at London the Thirtieth day of December in the Year of our Lord One
thousand Eight Hundred and Six, before the Worshipful Samuel Pearce Parson, Doctor of
Laws and Surrogate of the Right Honourable Sir William Wynne, Knight also Doctor of
Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully
constituted by the Oath of Mary Aitken, Widow and Relict of the deceased and the
surviving Executrix named in the said Will, to whom administration was granted of all
and Singular, the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the said deceased, she having been
first sworn duly to Administer.
John Allen sailed on Cook's third voyage on board the Resolution as a marine
private. He was from 58 Company of the Plymouth Division. Allen, who joined the ship
on 09 July 1776, was punished on three occasions. The first was on 10 January 1777 for
drunkenness. The other two punishments, on 12 September 1777 and on 28 September 1778
were for theft. Allen was one of the marines who died with Cook at Kealakekua Bay,
Hawai'i on 14 February 1779.
Allen left a will (PROB 11/1095), written on 07 July 1776, two days before he joined
the voyage. Interestingly, Allen shared the same executor and witnesses as Thomas
Fatchett, another marine who died with Cook. There was a strange delay of nearly two
years between the return to Britain and Allen's will being proven on 24 September
1782. No family is mentioned in the will.
First I recommend my soul to God that gave it and my body to the earth or sea as it
shall please God to order. And as for all my worldly estate I give, bequeath and
dispose thereof as followeth, that is to say:
All wages, sum and sums of money, lands, tenements, goods, chattels and estate
whatsoever as shall in any ways due, owing or belonging unto me at the time of my
decease I give, devise and bequeath the same unto my trusty and well beloved friend,
Dennis Delany, sergeant in the 54th Company of the above Division of marines.
And I do hereby nominate and appoint the abovesaid Dennis Delany, sergeant, my executor
of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former and other wills,
testaments and deeds of gift by me at any time heretofore made and I do ordain and
ratify these presents to stand and be for my last will and testament.
In witness whereof to this my said will I have hereunto set my hand and seal the
seventh day of July in the fifteenth year of the reign of our sovereign Lord, George
the Third, over Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith and so
forth and in this year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy six. John
Allen X his mark. SS. Signed, sealed and published in the presence of us. William
Burton. James Duncan. Patrick Grace.
This will was proved at London the twenty fourth day of September in the year of our
Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty two before the Right Worshipful Peter
Calvert, Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of
Canterbury, lawfully constituted by the oath of Dennis Delany, the sole executor named
in the said will to[whom] administration of all and singular the goods, chattels and
credits of the deceased was granted, having been first sworn by Commission duly to
administer.
Robert Anderson sailed on all three voyages with Cook. He joined the Endeavour
on 06 June 1768 as an AB, becoming a quartermaster on 26 September 1768. During the
voyage, he was punished on two occasions. The first time, on 30 November 1768, was for
leaving duty ashore and attemptng to desert; the second took place on 21 June 1769 for
refusing to obey the mate's orders. Anderson was obviously a popular member of the
crew as the wills of several members refer to him. Robert Taylor, the armourer, refers
to him as "my true and beloved friend and brother". James Matra would, years later,
accuse Anderson of plotting mutiny on the Endeavour but there is no independent
evidence for this.
After the Endeavour voyage, Anderson followed Cook to the Scorpion on 21
October 1771 as quartermaster. In a letter to Philip Stephens, Secretary to the
Admiralty, written in December 1771, Cook recommended Anderson to be gunner of the
Resolution on the second voyage "provide he quallifies himself for that station".
Accordingly, Anderson was discharged on 16 December 1771 to the Drake /
Resolution as gunner.
Anderson was suspected of being the author of an anonymous account of the second
voyage, published in 1775. Cook charged him to find out who the real author was, which
he did when he persuaded John Marra to own up.
Last Saturday morning I examined Mr Anderson the gunner about the Publication of my
late Voyage, said to be in press, and told him that he was Susspected of being the
Author; he afirm'd that he had no knowledge, or hand in it, and would use his
Endeavours to find out the Author, and yesterday made me the Inclosed report, to day
Marra Called upon me and confirmed what is therein set forth, and further added that
Bordel, my Coxswain and Reardon the Boatswain mate, each kept a Journal which they
had offered to the Booksellers but they were so badly written that no one could read
them. I have no reason to suspect this story, but will however, call on the Printer
and endeavour to get a Sight of the Manuscript, as I know most of their hand
writings. This Marra was of the gunners Mates, the same as wanted to remain at
Otaheite. If this is the only account of the Voyage that is printing, I do not think
it worth regarding; I have taken some measures to find out if there are any more and
such information as I may get shall be communicated to you by.
Sir - According to your derection I overhauld Every Booksellers Shop in St Pauls
till at Last I Came to mr frans Newburrys. I fairly Caught his Shopman, who answer'd
me, (when I demanded the Resolutions voyage) that they had not time to print it yet.
I then ask'd him if it was the Captains Journal they had, on which he Looked at me
and said they had no Journal at all yet, but stood as fair a Chance to publish the
voyage as the others, by this tim[e] he understood I was pumping of him So went &
brought me one of the Shop bills & bid me a good day, telling me that befor the
voyage was publish'd it would be advertis'd. I then drove to marra & peckovers
Lodging found the former at home I told him I had a mesuage from you Sr to deliver
to peckover, on wch marra went & found him I told him that there would be nothing
\ Ever don for him or me, unless we Could find out who it was that was publishing
the voyag, this made all present very sorry. Ther was present some of your Late
Crew. Some told me reading wrote a Journal which Enell produc'd I deposited five
guineas if he would Let me show you the acct he Consentd others told me Rollet
Keept a Journal Interlin'd in his bible. I wrote down all these Informations for
your Satisfaction. at Last marra pulld the paper from befor me, worte at the angel,
angel Court in the bourgh southwark Send that to Captain Cook, if he pleases to send
a Line for or to me, Ill Clear Every man that is Suspected, adding Im the man that
is publishing the voyage. I wants no prefermt and God forbid I should hinder those
whose bread depends on the Navey. and mr anderson as you have always been my frend
Com with me Ill Convince you further that the name of Anderson was never Intended to
be perfixt to the voyage. he order'd the Coach to Drive to newburrys Carried me into
the back parlor, Informd mr newburry his frends was kept out of bread. Therefore he
had discovered all now says he what is my Journal of the voyage to Come out in, in
no nam at all says the Book seller then say the other Let it Come out in the name of
Jno Marra at Length. adding if Captain Cook pleases to Call here mr newburry give
him all the Satisfaction in your power. mr newburry said he would, after which Mr
Newburry Invited us both to dener.
I should Sr have waited on you Last night but Im so Lame I Could not Come up. if you
will be pleas'd to Let me know when you will Send for marra Ill wait on you at the
same tim[e] to Confront him. but there is too many witness for him to Retract.
Honour'd sir you'l please to observe that this is twice I Inocently fell under your
displeasure which god has been please to Clear me off - I am Sr with the greatest
Respect
Your most obedient and most Humble Servant
R. Anderson.
Anderson then joined the third voyage on the Resolution on 10 February 1776,
again as gunner. He was born in Inverness in 1742. Nothing is known about Anderson
after Cook's voyages.
William Anderson was born on 28 December 1750, the son of Robert and Jean (née Melvil)
Anderson at North Berwick, East Lothian in Scotland. Robert Anderson was a schoolmaster
in North Berwick. Anderson studied medicine at Edinburgh University from 1766 to 1768,
He joined the navy and qualified
on 01 December 1768 as surgeon's first mate and, on 01 November 1770, he was promoted
to surgeon and served on the Barfleur.
Anderson sailed on the second voyage, joining the Resolution on 12 December 1771 as
surgeon's mate from the Barfleur. The Forsters thought highly of Anderson and,
when the third voyage was assembling, Cook saw the opportunity to avoid having a
specialist naturalist on board. Anderson therefore rejoined Cook on the Resolution,
this time as surgeon but with the further responsibility of acting as naturalist. He
joined the ship on 15 February 1776.
Though not formally educated for the task, Anderson proved a more than adequate
naturalist. He described and assembled a valuable collection of specimens for Joseph
Banks and made a huge contribution to the known vocabularies of Pacific languages. The
botanical genus Andersonia is named for him. Two papers were presented to the Royal
Society based on Anderson's fieldwork.
Anderson died in the Bering Sea on 03 August 1778. He made a will (PROB 11/1070) in
which he left most of his estate to his uncle, William Melvil, and his sisters, Beth
and Robinah. According to a letter from Joseph Banks to the Earl of Sandwich, George
Dempster, M.P. for Fife, saw to it that Anderson's family received all moneys owing
to it.
Cook was moved by Anderson's death. He wrote:
Cook, in a rare period of disorientation on his part, had not realised that it was St.
Lawrence Island, the name it still carries. However, Anderson Point in Nootka Sound
still honours William Anderson.
Robert Anderson was possibly baptised at Tranent, East Lothian on 06 November 1717,
the son of Robert and Jean (nee Burnside) Anderson. Jean Melvil was the daughter of
Alexander and Isabell (nee Broune or Brown). She was baptised on 26 April 1719 at
Tranent.
Robert and Jean Anderson had the following children, all baptised at North Berwick,
East Lothian:
Anderson also mentions an uncle, William Melvil, living at North Berwick.
After all my just and lawful Debts are paid, I leave or bequeath unto my Uncle Mr William
McHill (?) living or lately living at North Berwick, Mains, Haddingtonshire, Scotland,
one half of whatever I may be possessed of at my Death, whether Money, Goods &c. I
leave to my Sisters Beth and Robinah, the other half of whatsoever I may be possessed
of at my Death, it being to be equally divided between them. I leave to Joseph
Banks Esquire the Natural Curiosities I have collected during this voyage with some
Manuscript Note relating to them. I leave to Mr Samuel of the Resolution
what Books I have on Board, Except Manuscripts. I leave what cloathes or Wearing apparel
I have to Joseph Collett and William Starling, the Gun Room Servants, and
desire that this and the preceding article may be fulfilled at my Death without waiting
the Execution of the rest of the Will.
And I do hereby nominate and appoint Messrs. Thomas and William Mande in Downing Street,
Westminster Executors of this my last Will and Testament.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal, the twenty first Day of July in
the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Seventy eight.Wm. Anderson.
Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared by the said Testator in the presence of
James King, A.Dewar.
This Will was proved at London the Fourteenth Day of November in the Year of our Lord one
thousand Seven hundred and Eighty before the Worshipful Andrew Colter Ducarel, Doctor of
Laws, Surrogate of the Right Worshipful Peter Calvert, Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or
Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of
Thomas Mande one of the Executors named in the said Will to whom Administration was
granted of all and Singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the deceased having been
first Sworn duly to administer, power reserved of making the like grant to William Mande
the other Executor named in the said Will when he shall apply for the same.
Thomas Whitton Andrews sailed on the second voyage on the Adventure as surgeon.
Andrews had recently qualified as a ship's surgeon having gained his dipoma on 03
August 1769 and passed his examination for surgeon first rate on 08 February 1771.
During the voyage, Captain Tobias Furneaux took on board Mai (sometimes known as Omai),
a Raiatean in order to take him to Britain. Andrews had become reasonably proficient in
the Tahitian language and he was entrusted with looking after Mai. This continued after
the voyage during Mai's time in Britain.
Andrews later served on the Thetis, Russell, Buffalo, Monarchia, Nabob, Orford
and Catherine the Great. He left the last named in October 1790 and presumably
retired from the navy then. He died in 1813 in Gillingham, Kent, leaving a will
(PROB 11/1551).
I give & bequeath unto my friend the Reverend James Lynn of the City of Rochester
Clerk & to my friend Mary Larkin of the same City, Spinster, the Sum of five Guineas
each for a ring as a mark of my great respect & regard for each of them & as a token
of the long & continuous friendship which hath subsisted between us & from & after
payment & satisfaction of my just debts, my funeral & testamentary charges & all
incident expences & subject thereby,
I give & bequeath all & every my household Goods, furniture, Plate, Linen, China,
ready money & securities for money & all other my personal Estate & Effects whatsoever
& wheresoever which I may be possessed of, interested in, or entitled to at the time
of my decease, unto the said James Lynn his Executors Admons. & Assigns upon trust or
for the only use & benefit of my Son Magnus Whitton Andrews, now in the Island of
Madeira, Doctor in Physic, absolutely.
And I do hereby authorize & empower the said James Lynn my Trustee to receive & give
acquittances, releases & discharges for all Sum & Sums of money which now is or are or
at any time hereafter shall be or become due or payable to me upon any amount
whatsoever & to sell & dispose of my said personal estate & effects or otherwise to
convert the same into money as he my said trustee shall think proper, the same being
for the sole use & absolute benefit of my said Son.
& I do hereby will, declare & direct that the receipt of my said trustee, either with
or without the concurrence of my said Son, shall in every wise & upon all occasions
whatsoever be a good & sufficient discharge and discharges to the person or persons
paying any Sum or Sums of money, & after such receipt or receipts obtained, the same
shall be a good and effectual discharge for so much money as in such receipt or
receipts shall be expressed or acknowledged to be received, & that after payment &
satisfaction thereof the person or persons paying the same & taking such receipts
shall not be obliged to see to the application, nor be answerable, or in any way
whatever accountable for the loss, misapplication, or non-application thereof, or any
part thereof, & I do hereby further declare that my said trustee shall not be
responsible for or charged with or accountable for any more monies arising from my
Estate & Effects than shall be actually received by him or come to his hands or use,
nor with or for any loss or reduction which shall or may happen therein or in or about
the trusts or Executorship hereof or relative thereto without his wilful neglect or
default, & that it shall & may be lawful for my said trustee to deduct & retain to &
reimburse himself out of the monies arising from my Estate & Effects all costs,
charges & expences which he shall or may pay, expend or be put unto, in or about the
Executorship or Trust of this my Will or any Suit and matter or thing relative thereto.
& I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint the said James Lynn, Sole Executor of
this my Will, & hereby revoking every other Will by me at any time heretofore made I
do declare this alone to be and contain my last Will and Testament.
In Witness whereof I the said Thomas Whitton Andrews the testator have hereunto
set my hand and seal the eleventh day of February in the year of our Lord 1813
- T.W.Andrews. Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Thomas
Whitton Andrews the testator as & for his last Will and Testament in the presence
of us who in his presence and at his request & in the presence of each other have
subscribed our names as Witness thereto - Joseph Smethurst - Brompton - J. Gibbs,
Solicitor, Rochester.
Proved at London 17th February 1814 before the Worshipful John Dodson LLD & Surrogate
by the oath of the Revd. James Lynn, Clerk, the sole Executor, to whom Admon. was
granted, having been first sworn duly to Admin.
Noble Arrowsmith was born on 16 February 1749 in London, the son of Robert and
Elizabeth Arrowsmith. Arrowsmith joined the Adventure on 11 February 1772 as an
AB and sailed on the second voyage. He was born in London in 1749 and baptised at St.
Dionis Backchurch on 21 February 1749. The family possibly lived near Leadenhall
Market as his mother is listed as living there in his will. He died in 1780 or 1781
when serving on HMS Resource. He was probably unmarried as only his mother is
mentioned in his will (PROB 11/1077).
First, and Principally I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God, hoping for
Remission of all my Sins through the Merits of Jesus Christ my blessed Saviour and
Redeemer, and my Body to the Earth or Sea as it shall please God, and as for such
worldly Estate and Effects which I shall be possessed of or entitled unto at the time
of my decease -
I give and bequeath unto my Mother, Elizabeth Arrowsmith, living in Leadenhall Market,
London, all such Wages, Sum and Sums of Money as now is or hereafter shall be due to me
for my service or otherwise on board the said Ship, or any other Ship or Vessel
And do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my said Mother, Elizabeth Aroowsmith
Executor of this my last Will and Testament. And I do give and bequeath unto my said
Executor all the rest and residue of my Estate whatsoever, both real and personal,
hereby revoking and making void all other and former wills by me heretofore made, and
do declare this to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and Seal this second day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
hundred and seventy eight, and in the (left blank) year of the Reign of our sovereign
Lord George the third by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland King,
Defender of the Faith &c. Noble Arrowsmith.
Signed, Sealed, Published and declared by the said Noble Arrowsmith as and for
his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our Names
as Witnesses in the presence of the said Testator Pat. Fothringham, M Robinson.
This Will was proved at London on the third day of May in the year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred and eighty one before the Worshipful Francis Simpson, Doctor of
Laws, Surrogate of the Right Worshipful Peter Calvert, Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or
Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of
Elizabeth Arrowsmith, Widow, the Mother of the deceased and sole Executrix named in the
said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods, Chattels
and Credits of the said deceased she having been first sworn duly to administer.
John Baptisto was entered on the supernumerary list of the Endeavour at Batavia /
Jakarta on 17 October 1770. His name was then transferred to the muster proper on 01
February 1771 for the final stages of Cook's first voyage. Nothing is known about him
prior to that. His will from 1797, (PROB 11/1296) below, shows he remained in the
Navy. The will also records his wife living at Stoke Damerel, just outside Plymouth
and Devonport.
A John Baptisto married Ann Opey on 02 December 1782 at Stoke, Damerel, near Plymouth.
They had two children: a son, John, was baptised on 21 November 1782 at Stoke Damerel
and a daughter, Ann, was baptised on 22 April 1786 at Stoke Damerel. The surname
appears variously as Baptisto and Baptista.
First, I recommend my Soul to God that gave it and my Body I commit to the Earth or Sea
as it shall please God to Order, and as for and concerning all my Worldly Estate, I
give, bequeath and Dispose thereof, that is to say -
After my just Debts are Paid, all such Pension, Wages, Sum and Sums of Money, Lands,
Tenements, Goods, Chattels and Estate whatsoever as shall be any ways due, owing, or
belonging unto me at the time of my Decease, I give, devise and bequeath the same unto
my beloved Wife Ann Baptisto, now Residing in the Parish of Stoke Damerel in the County
of Devon.
And I do hereby Nominate and Appoint John Church of the said Parish of Stoke Damerel,
Navy Agent, to be the Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking
all former and other Wills, Testaments and Deeds of Gifts by me at any time heretofore
made. And I do ordain and ratify these Presents to Stand and be for and as my only last
Will and Testament. In Witness whereof to this my said Will I have set my hand and Seal
the eleventh day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety
three, and in the thirty third year of the Reign of his Majesty King George the third
over Great Britain, etc. John Baptisto. X his Mark.
Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared in the presence of us Chas. Boyles Captn. - Noel
Swiney, Purser, - William Dee, Boatswain, - Saml. Northesk.
On the fourteenth day of October in the year of Our Lord One thousand and Seven hundred
and Ninety Seven, Admon. with the Will annexed of all and Singular, the Goods, Chattels
and Credits of John Baptisto otherwise Baptist late of Plymouth in the County of
Devon and a Seaman belonging to His Majesty's Ship Le Caton (?) deceased, was
granted to Ann Baptisto, Widow, the Relict of the said deceased and the Universal
Legatee named in the said Will, John Church the Sole Executor therein named having
first Renounced the Execution of the said Will having been first Sworn duly to
Administer.
Robert Barber was born in Kilkenny in Ireland in 1749. He sailed on the Adventure
as quartermaster during the second voyage, joining the ship on 17 December 1771. Barber
was rated AB from 01 January 1773. He was still in the Navy when he died in 1783. In
his will (PROB 11/1105 dated 1783) Barber left his estate to his sisters, Ann Barber
and Mary Barber.
First, I recommend my Soul to God that gave it and my body I commit to the Earth or Sea
as it shall please God to order, and as for and concerning all my Wordly Estate, I give,
bequeath and dispose thereof as followeth, that is to say -
All my Prize Money, Wages, Sum and Sums of Money, Lands, Tenements, Goods, Chattels and
Estate whatsoever as shall be any ways due, owing or belonging unto me at the time of
my decease, I do give, devise and bequeath the same unto my two Sisters Mary Barber and
Ann Barber, equally to be divided between them, share and share alike.
And I do hereby nominate and appoint my said Sisters Mary Barber and Ann Barber Joint
Executrixes of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former and other
Wills, Testaments and deeds of Gifts by me at any time heretofore made. And I do ordain
and ratify these presents to stand and be, for and as my only last Will and Testament.
In Witness of to this my said Will I have set my hand and Seal this twenty ninth day of
December, in the year of Our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Seventy nine, and in
the twentieth year of the Reign of his Majesty King George the third, King over Great
Britain &c. Robt. Barber.
Signed, Sealed, published and declared in the presence [ ] Darkin, Rd. Hall, Thos.
Chapman.
This Will was proved at London the twentieth day of July in the year of Our Lord One
thousand Seven hundred and Eighty three, before the Worshipful John Fisher, Doctor of
Laws and Surrogate of the Right Worshipful Peter Calvert, Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper
or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, lawfully constituted by the Oath
of Ann Barber Spinster, the Sister and one of the Joint Executrixes named in the Will
of the deceased, to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods,
Chattels and Credits of the said deceased, she having been first sworn duly to
Administer. Power reserved of making the like grant to Mary Barber Spinster, the Sister
also of the said deceased and the other Executrix named in the said Will when she shall
apply for the same.
Temporary entry May 2007
Edward Barrett joined the Resolution for the second voaygae on 10 March 1772 as an AB
and cook's mate. He then joined the Discovery for the third voyage on 17 February
1776 as an AB. He was born in London about 1756. He may have died in 1796 or 1801?
There are two possible wills,PROB 11/1284 or 11/1361.
Nathaniel Bateman took over as captain of HMS Northumberland under Commodore
Alexander, Lord Colvill in 1760. He remained with the ship, for which James Cook was the
master, until it returned to Britain in November 1762.
A biography of Admiral Rodney by Donald Macintyre records that:
This does not fit in with naval records that show Bateman had become a lieutenant on 05
July 1756. It seems more likely that Bateman performed his gallantry during Admiral John
Byng's "ill-starred" defeat in the Mediterranean on 20 May 1756. It seems strange that
Bateman would have had to wait 12 years for his reward. He was promoted a commander on
22 September 1759 and given command of the sloop, Hunter immediately after the
siege of Quebec. He was further promoted to captain on 31 March 1760 and appointed as
captain on HMS Eurus. He remained with the Eurus until 14 August 1760. A
month later Bateman replaced Adams as captain of the Northumberland on 22 September
1760.
Bateman remained with Colvill and Cook on the Northumberland based in Halifax, Nova
Scotia until August 1762 when they all took part in the relief of St. John's,
Newfoundland. Bateman left the ship on 08 December 1762 after it had returned to Britain.
Early in the new year, on 24 February 1763, Bateman moved to the Ludlow Castle and
remained there until 18 July 1764 as captain. He may have commanded the Bellona,
a guardship at Plymouth from 1765 to 1767.
On 20 February 1776, he transferred to the Winchelsea until 25 July 1778 when he
was appointed to HMS Yarmouth. On 17 April 1780, Bateman was still in command of
the Yarmouth, part of the British fleet under Admiral Sir George
Rodney, which engaged the French under Admiral de Guichen off Martinique in the
West Indies. Admiral Rodney sent out directions and signals that virtually all of his
captains found difficult to understand and implement. As a result, the battle proved
indecisive. Rodney blamed his captains for not delivering him a famous victory and was
very critical of most of them but Bateman was singled out for a court martial. At the
court martial in New York, Bateman was found guilty and he apparently insulted the judges
after being sentenced. (Court Martial minutes PRO 30/20/18). He was dismissed from the
navy but, on 13 November 1780, his name appeared on the superannuated captain's list.
James Cook named Bateman's Bay on the south New South Wales coast. It is probable that is
was to honour Nathaniel Bateman though another Bateman, John Bateman, had been one of
the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty in the mid-1750s.
There are several wills for Nathaniel Batemans in the late eighteenth century but none
match Cook's captain. Neither are there BDM records that are clearly for him.
- I give and bequeath unto my niece Mary Dark of Market Lavington in the County of
Wilts, Widow, the Sum of four hundred pounds Stg (Sterling), and for her own proper use
& benefit,
- I give and bequeath unto her Son Emanuel Dark the Sum of Five Hundred pounds Sterling,
- & the like Sum of Five Hundred pounds Sterling unto James Dark another of the Sons of
the said Mary Dark,
- and the Sum of Four hundred pounds Sterling unto each of the daughters of the said
Mary Dark as shall be born and living at the time of my decease & for their several &
respective uses and benefit,
- I give & bequeath unto my Nephew Joseph Bayly, Son of my late Brother Joseph Bayly of
Market Lavington aforesaid the Sum of One thousand pounds Sterling to & for his own
proper use & benefit,
- I also give unto my friends Col. Mark Beaufoy of Hackney Wick in the County of Middx.
and Thos. Mease of Wilton in the County of Wilts, Carpet Manufacturer, their Exors,
Admors and Assigns the Sum of One thousand pounds Stock in the Navy five per Cent Anns.
Upon Trust that they, the said Mark Beaufoy and Thomas Mease or the Survivor of them, or
the Exors or Admors of such Survivor, do and shall pay and apply the Dividends and
Interest thereof from time to time as the same shall become due and payable, unto my
said Nephew Joseph Bayly & his assigns, for and during the term of his natural life, and
from and after his decease, do and shall pay & apply the dividends and produce of the
said Sum of One thousand pounds Navy five per Cent Anns. unto Elizabeth Bayly, the
present wife of the said Joseph Bayly for & during the term of her natural life or so
long thereof as she shall continue his Widow, and from & immediately after her decease
or second Marriage upon Trust to have for & pay the said One thousand pounds Navy five
per cent Anns. unto such of the Children of my said Nephew Joseph Bayly as shall be
living at the decease of the survivor of them my said nephew Joseph Bayly and Elizabeth
his Wife, or at the second Marriage of her the said Elizabeth Bayly, to be equally
divided between them if more than one share & share alike and in case there shall be no
child or children of my said Nephew Joseph Bayly living at the decease of the survivor
of them the said Joseph Bayly and Elizabeth his Wife or at the second marriage of her
the said Elizabeth Bayly, then it is my Will that the sd. Sum of One thousand pounds
Navy five per Cent Anns. shall sink into and become part of the Residue of my Personal
Estate.
- I also give and bequeath unto each of the sons of my said Nephew Joseph Bayly who
shall be born and living at the time of my decease the Sum of Five hundred pounds
Sterling to & for their several and respective use & benefit to be transferred or paid
to them as they shall respectively attain the age of twenty one years, the Dividends or
Interest in the mean while to be paid and applied for or towards their Maintenance &
Education, provided always that in Case any or either of the Sons of my said Nephew
Joseph Bayly who shall be born and living at the time of my decease shall depart this
Life under the age of twenty one years it is my Will that the Legacy or respective
Legacies of Five hundred pounds of him or them so dying shall sink into & become part of
the Residue of my Personal Estate
- I also give & bequeath unto each of the Daus. of my said Nephew Joseph Bayly who shall
be born & living at the time of my decease the Sum of Four hundred pounds Sterling to
and for their several & respective uses & benefit, to be transferred or paid to them at
their respective ages of twenty one years or days of marriage which ever Event shall
first happen, the dividends or interest in the mean while to be paid & applied for or
towards their Maintenance & Education, provided always that in Case any or either of
the Daus. of my said Nephew Joseph Bayly born and living at the time of my decease shall
depart this life under the age of 21 Years & unmarried the Legacy or Legacies of Four
hundred pounds of her or them so dying shall sink into & be deemed part of the Residue
of my Personal Estate,
- I give and bequeath unto Priscilla Maslin, the daughter of my late Nephew Thomasd
Maslin of All Cannings in the County of Wilts, the Sum of Four hundred pounds Sterling
to & for her own use and benefit, to be transferred or paid to her at the age of twenty
one years or day of Marriage which ever Event shall first happen, the dividends and
interest in the mean time to be paid and applied for or towards her Maintenance and
Education provided always that in Case the sd. Priscilla Maslin shall depart this Life
under the age of twenty one Years and unmarried the said Legacy of Four hundred pounds
so bequeathed to her as aforesaid shall sink into & be deemed part of the Residue of my
Personal Estate,
- I give and bequeath unto Sarah Maslin, the widow of my said late Nephew Thomas Maslin
the Sum of One hundred pounds Sterling to & for her own proper use and benefit
- I give and bequeath unto Susannah Stephens, daughter of John Stephens of Pottern in
the County of Wilts, Widow and Mealman (?) the Sum of Four hundred pounds Sterling to &
for her own proper use and benefit to be transferred or paid to her at her age of twenty
one years or day of Marriage, which ever Event shall first happen, the dividends and
Interest to be paid and applied in the mean while for or towards her Maintenance and
Education & Support provided always that if the said Susannah Stephens shall depart his
Life under the age of twenty one Years and unmarried then & in such Case it is my Will
and I do hereby direct that the said Sum of Four Hundred pounds Sterling so bequeathed
to her as aforesaid shall sink & be deemed part of the Residue of my Personal Estate,
- I give & bequeath unto Louisa Pook, the daughter of James and Elizabeth Pook of
Portsea aforesaid the Sum of Four hundred pounds sterling to be transferred and paid on
her attaining the age of twenty one Years or day of Marriage which ever Event shall
first happen, the dividends and interest thereof in the mean while to accumulate & go
along with and be paid & transferred to the said Louisa Pook at the same time as the
said Sum of Four hundred pounds so bequeathed to her as aforesaid, provided always that
in Case the said Louisa Pook shall depart this Life under the age of twenty one Years
and unmarried than I do hereby direct that the said Sum of Four hundred pounds so given
to the said Louisa Pook as aforesaid together with all accumulations arising therefrom
shall sink into & be deemed part of the Residue of my Personal Estate,
- I give and bequeath unto the said Mark Beaufoy and Thomas Mease their Exors, Admors
& Assigns the Sum of One thousand pounds Navy five per Cent Anns. now standing in the
transfer books kept for the same Anns. at the Bank of England in my Name under the
description of William Bayly, Gent. of Hackney in the County of Middx., upon the
several Trusts hereinafter mentioned and expressed of and concerning the same (that is
to say) Upon Trust that they my said Trustees or the Survivor of them, his Exors or
Admors do and shall duly authorize and permit my late Wife's Brother Robert Chittle of
Leicester in the County of Leicester, Gent. and his Exors, Admors & Assigns to receive
the Dividends and Interest of the said last mentioned Sum of One thousand pounds for &
during the natural life of his sister Hannah Hulls upon condition and in order that he
the said Robert Chittle his Exors, Admors or Assigns shall & do well & truly pay unto
the said Hannah Hulls for and during the term of her natural Life the weekly Sum of
fourteen Shillings to and for her own proper use and benefit, and from & immediately
after the decease of the said Hannah Hulls Upon Trust that they, my said Trustees or the
Survivor of them his Exors or Admors, do and shall transfer, assign & pay the said last
mentioned Sum of One thousand pounds unto the said Robert Chittle his Exors, Admors &
Assigns to and for his & their own proper use & benefit, provided always that if the
said Robert Chittle his Exors, Admors or Assigns shall not well & truly pay the said
weekly Sum of fourteen Shillings to the said Hannah Hulls as & when the same shall
become due to her as aforesaid, then in such Case I direct that my said Trustees or the
Survivor of them his Exors or Admors, shall and do, by and out of the Interest and
Dividends of the last mentioned Sum of One thousand pounds pay the said weekly Sum of
fourteen Shillings, or if my said Trustees or the Survivor of them his Exors or Admors
shall think proper, do and shall pay the whole of such Dividends and Interest unto the
said Hannah Hulls for and during the term of her natural Life, and after the decease of
the said Hannah Hulls, if any part of the said Dividends or Interest shall remain
unapplied by my said Trustees as aforesaid, the same shall be paid together with the
said Sum of One thousand pounds unto the said Robert Chittle, his Exors, Admors or
Assigns to and for his and their own proper use and benefit respectively.
- I give and bequeath unto each of my Exors, the said Colonel Mark Beaufoy and Thomas
Mease, the Sum of One thousand pounds Sterling, to and for their own proper use and
benefit respectively,
- I give and bequeath unto the said Colonel Mark Beaufoy one of my large Chromatic
Telescopes, viz the one of 5 foot together with the apparatus thereto belonging, and it
is my Will that the said Colonel Mk Beaufoy may also have as many of my manuscripts,
Books & papers as he may think proper,
- And I also give unto my said friend Thomas Mease all my Southsea Curiosities contained
in the box No. 1,
- And I give and bequeath unto Ann the Wife of the said Thomas Mease the Sum of two
hundred pounds Sterling,
- I give and bequeath unto Hannah Bunking, Spinster Sister of the said Ann Mease the Sum
of two hundred pounds Sterling,
- I give and bequeath unto Frances or Fanny Osman, who now keeps my house, for her Care
and attention to me, the Sum of four hundred pounds Sterling, provided she remains with
me until my decease, but in Case she quits my Service either by marrying or otherwise
before I die, I give and bequeath to her only One hundred pounds Sterling, and I give to
her provided she remains with me Five pounds Sterling to buy mourning, and also the
bedstead & furniture on the second floor back Chamber, together with six months Wages,
- I give and bequeath to my man Servant and Maid Servant living with me at my decease
each Five pounds Sterling to buy mourning, and also six months Wages
- And whereas the King has been lately pleased to grant unto me (in behalf of my Great
Nephew William Henry Dark of Market Lavington in the said County of Wilts, one of the
Sons of my said Niece Mary Dark) his Royal Licence and Authority, that he the sd.
William Henry Dark and his Issue may take and use the Surname of Bayly instead of that
of Dark, and also to bear the arms of Bayly, only Now I do hereby give and devise unto
my said Great Nephew William Henry Dark, who by his Majys said Licence is authorized to
take and use my Surname as aforesaid, all that my Leasehold Messuage with its Appurts,
situate in Gloucester Street, Portman Square, in the Parish of Marylebone, in te County
of Middx., now in the occupation of Mrs Gould or her undertenant Mr Holley, to hold the
same to him, the said William Henry Dark, so authorized at aforesaid to take & use the
Surname of Bayly, his Exors, Admors & Assigns for and during all my Estate Term and
Interest therein,
- All and singular the Rest, Residue and Remainder of the personal Estate, Effects and
Property which I shall be possessed of or entitled to or anyways interested in at the
time of my decease, or over which I have any disposing power, whether the same consist
of monies in the Funds or otherwise out on security at Interest, or of whatever
description the same or any part thereof may be (after payment of my just debts, Funeral
Exps. & the costs proving this my Will, and the Expences incidental to the Execution
thereof and the Legacies hereinbefore given and bequeathed), I give and bequeath unto my
said Great Nephew William Henry Dark so authorized as aforesaid to take & use the name
of Bayly and such Son or Sons of my Nephew the said Joseph Bayly as shall be born and
living at the time of my decease, to be equally divided between the said William Henry
Dark and the Son or Sons of my Nephew the said Joseph Bayly, share and share alike,
- And I do hereby nominate and appoint the said Col. Mark Beaufoy and Thomas Mease,
Exors of this my Will, provided always and it is my Will and I do hereby direct that my
said Trustees and Exors. Shall not be answerable or accountable for any Loss that shall
happen to all or any part of my Estate or Effects so as such Loss be not through their
wilful neglect or default and that they shall reimburse themselves respectively all such
Loss, Costs, Charges, damages and Expences as they or either of them shall be put unto
or sustain in or about the Exorship. of this my Will or for or by reason of any Matter,
Cause or Thing whatsoever relating to the same, and that one of them shall not be
answerable or accountable for the other of them, or for the Accs., Receipts, Payments or
Defaults of the other of them, but each of them for himself and for his own acts
defaults Heirs, Exors & Admors only,
- And Lastly I do hereby revoke and make void all former & other will & wills by me at
any time heretofore made & declare this only to be and contain my last Will and
Testament. In Testimony whereof I the said William Bayly have hereto set my Hand
and Seal (that is to say) my hand to the first five sheets hereunto annexed, and my hand
and seal to this sixth & last sheet, in the twenty second day of September in the year
of our Lord 1810 - Wm. Bayly.
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Wm. Bayly the Testator as & for his
last Will and Testament upon the day of the date in the presence of us who in his
presence and in the presence of each other and at his request have hereunto subscribed
our names as Witnesses
A Codicil to be added to and taken as part of the last Will and Testament of me
William Bayly withinmentioned,
- whereby I give and bequeath unto my Friend James Bradly of Queen Street, Portsea, my
new Transit Instrument with the apparatus therein & belonging,
- And I give and bequeath unto Ann Mease, wife of Thomas Mease of Wilton, and to Hannah
Bunking of Turnham Green, Middx. all the wearing apparel and Trinkets belonging to my
late Wife and daughter Louisa, to be equally divided between them
In Testimony whereof I have to this Codicil set my hand and Seal the 12th day of
December 1810 - Wm Bayly
Signed, sealed, published and declared in the presence of
Proved at London with a codicil the 11th of Febry. 1811 before the Judge by the oaths of
Thomas Mease & Mark Beaufoy Esqrs. the Exors. to whom Admon. was granted being sworn
duly to Administer.
Bayly's will is annotated in the margin as follows:
(*** Act)
On the 24th day of December 1829 Admon. with the Will and Codicil annexed of the Goods,
Chattels and Credits of William Bayly, formerly First Master of the Royal Academy
in his Majesty's Dockyard near Portsmouth, but late of Portsea in the County of
Southampton, deceased, left unadministered by Thos. Mease and Mark Beaufoy respectfully
deceased, whilst living the Executors named in the said Will, was granted to William
Collins the sole Executor of the Will of Joseph Bayly deceased, whilst living the
natural, lawful and only Son of Joseph Bayly (the Nephew) deceased, and as such, one of
the residuary Legatees named in said Will having been sworn duly to Administer. John
Thornhill and Henry Stone the Executors named in the Will of Mark Beaufoy (the serving
Executor having renounced the Probate and Execution of the said Will - William Henry
Dark otherwise Bayly the lawful great nephew and only other residuary Legatee having
been first duly rited with the usual Intimation to accept or refuse - the letter of
admon. with the Will and Codicil annexed of the unadministered goods of the said
William Bayly deceased if he should by law be entitled thereto but in no wise
appear. The said Joseph Bayly, the natural lawful and only child of Joseph Bayly (the
Nephew) deceased as aforesaid being born and living at the time of the death of the
said William Bayly, died without having taken upon himself the letter of Admon.
(with the Will and Codicil annexed of the aforesaid unadministered Goods as by Acts of
Court appears.
Robert Beard was a marine corporal on the Resolution on the second voyage. He
joined on May 1772 from the Chatham Division of marines. There is no record of his
place or date of birth. He died on HMS Thunderer in October 1780, when the ship
sank during a hurricane in the West Indies. He was by then a sergeant of marines. He
left a wife, Elizabeth, who was living at Portsmouth Common.
Beard left a will (PROB 11/1080) dated 1781. No other details about his life have been
located.
First, I recommend my Soul to God that gave it, and my Body I commit to the Earth or Sea
as it shall please God to order, and as for and concerning all my worldly Estate, I
give, bequeath and dispose thereof as followeth, That is to say -
All such Wages, Sum and Sums of Money, Lands, Tenements, Goods, Chattels and Estate
whatsoever as shall in any ways due, owing or belonging unto me at the time of my
decease, I do give, devise and bequeath the same unto my beloved Wife, Elizabeth Beard
of Rosemary Lane, Portsmouth Common.
And I do hereby nominate and appoint the above said Elizabeth Beard, Executrix of this
my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former and other Wills, Testaments and
Deeds of Gifts by me at any time heretofore made. And I do ordain and ratify these
presents to stand and be for and as my only last Will and Testament.
In Witness whereof to this my said Will I have set my hand and Seal the thirty first
day of July in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine, And in
the nineteenth Year of the Reign of his Majesty King George the third over Great Britain
&c. Robert Beard.
Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared in the presence of R.B.Walsingham, Jno. Monds.
This Will was proved at London the seventeenth day of August in the Year of our Lord
one thousand seven hundred and eighty one before the Right Worshipful Peter Calvert,
Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
lawfully constituted by the oath of Elizabeth Beard, Widow, the Relict of the deceased
and sole Executrix named in the said Will, to whom Administration was granted of all
and singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the said deceased, she having been
first Sworn by Commission duly to Administer.
William Bee joined the second voyage on the Resolution on 26 December 1771 as
quartermaster's mate. Bee was born at Barton in North Yorkshire (near Croft) about
1747. (There are Bee baptisms at Barton St. Mary round about 1720 connecting the
family with the village).
William Bee married a Jane and they had two daughters, both baptised at St. Paul's,
Deptford; Mary on 04 November 1776 and Harriot on 11 March 1781. Mary is the only
one mentioned in Bee's will (PROB 11/1326) from Deptford in 1799. John Bee, a coal
merchant at Bankside, Southwark and possibly Bee's brother is named as executor.
In Witness whereof I have to this my Will set my Hand and affixed my Seal this first
day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety nine -
Wm. Bee.
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the Testator, William Bee as and for
his last Will and Testament in the presence of us, who in his presence, at his request,
and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as Witnesses attesting
the execution thereof - H Flanning - J Hubert & Boro.
This Will was proved at London the twenty seventh day of July in the year of our Lord
one thousand seven hundred and ninety nine, before the Worshipful Charles Coote,
Doctor of Laws, Surrogate of the Right Honourable Sir William Wynne, Knight, also
Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
lawfully constituted by the oath of John Bee the sole Executor named in the said Will,
to whom Administration of all and singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the said
deceased was granted he having first sworn duly to Administer.
Gregory Bentham was baptised on 03 July 1743 at Sheerness, the son of Gregory and Sarah
Bentham. This part of the Bentham family was associated with the naval dockyards at
Chatham and Sheerness. Bryan Bentham, Gregory's grandfather, was Clerk of HM Ropeyard
at Chatham in 1726 and, when he died in 1748, he was Clerk of the Cheque at Sheerness.
Bentham joined Cook's third voyage on the Discovery on 10 February 1776 as an AB,
becoming became Clerk on 12 March 1776.
Bentham later sailed on HMS Pandora, under Captain Edward Edwards, in the search
for the Bounty mutineers. He joined the ship on 10 August 1790. The Pandora
was wrecked in Torres Strait on 28 August 1791. Bentham survived and collected
£32-8s-11d in wages back in Britain on 03 May 1793. There are no further records for
Bentham, suggesting he never married.
Jeremy Bentham, the philosopher and social reformer, and his brother, Samuel Bentham,
the naval architect and dockyard reformer, were cousins of Gregory Bentham. They were
grandsons of Jeremiah Bentham (~1683-1741), Gregory's great-uncle.
Joseph Billings, who sailed on the third voyage on the Discovery as an AB, was
born in Turnham Green, West London on 06 September 1758. He was one of four children of
Thomas and Mary Billing and he was baptised at St. Nicholas in Chiswick on 24 September
1758. Thomas Billing had married Mary Wallis on 08 July 1754 at Chiswick. Joseph had a
sister, Henrietta Maria, and two brothers, James and Richard.
Billings joined the Discovery on 08 April 1776. He transferred to Resolution
on 14 September 1779. On both musters his name was listed as Bellens. On the
Discovery, he assisted the astronomer, William Bayly. After the voyage, Billings
was one of several men who remained with James King on the Conquestador, Crocodile
and Resistance. It is unclear when and where the bond developed between Billings
and King as, except for a period of about three weeks they sailed on different ships
during Cook's voyage. It was probably Billings's ability in astronomy that brought him
to King's attention. King had been entrusted with writing up the narrative of the third
voyage and this required him to regularly visit London. It is believed that Billings
accompanied him and assisted in the preparation.
Billings was imprisoned in December 1782 for a debt and the Resistance sailed to
the West Indies without him. However, he petitioned Joseph Banks, whom he had met
through King and Banks secured his release from the King's Bench Prison on 14 January
1783.
Like several other men from Cook's third voyage, Billings had seen the commercial
potential of the sea otter fur trade in the Northern Pacific and tried to interest
people in the opportunities. Trading on his Cook connection, he approached the Russian
authorities in London who corresponded with St. Petersburg about employing him. A note
of 08 October 1783 in the Journal of the [Russian] Board of Admiralties records:
He joined the Russian Navy in October 1783 and was promoted lieutenant in January 1784.
The Russians were concerned about British, Spanish and French activity in the Northern
Pacific and Catherine II ordered the Russian admiralty in August 1785 to send
expeditions to the region to claim territory and forestall foreign claims. Billings was
appointed leader in late 1785 of an expedition to carry out Catherine's directives but
that would also carry out scientific investigations including the charting the Arctic
Ocean shoreline from the mouth of the River Kolyma as far as the Bering Strait and then
charting of the Chukotskiy peninsula. Finally the Aleutian Islands across to Alaska
would be charted.
The logistics of the expedition were enormous and difficult as supplies had to be taken
by land across Siberia via Irkutsk and Yakutsk to Nizhnekolymsk on the River Kolyma
where ships were built. In June 1787, the Pallas and Yasashna, commanded
respectively by Billings and Gavriil Sarychev, attempted to sail east from the Kolmya
only to be thwarted by pack ice. Billings gave up and returned to Yakutsk where, in
November, he encountered John Ledyard, who had been on Cook's third voyage with him as a
marine corporal. Ledyard noted that he:
Martin Sauer, Billings's secretary and translator wrote:
The expedition transferred to Okhotsk where two new ships had been constructed for them.
In September 1789, Billings, in command of the Slava Rossii, with Sarychev in
command of the Dobroe Namerenie, set sail but the Dobroe Namerenie was
immediately lost as they left Okhotsk harbour. Everyone then transferred to the Slava
Rossii, which sailed for Petropavlovsk, where they spent the winter. The Slava
Rossii, under Billings's command, sailed for the Aleutians in May 1790. They charted
along the island chain as far as Unalaska and then proceeded to Kodiak Island before
returning to Petropavlovsk in the October.
In 1791, Billings sailed north into the Bering Strait and attempted a passage to the
Kolmya River but was again stopped by ice. Instead he put into Zaliv Lavrentiya where he
left the ship and undertook a land crossing and survey of the Chukotskiy peninsula. The
Slava Rossii meanwhile returned to Unalaska. The expedition reassembled at
Yakutsk in late 1792 and set off for St. Petersburg, which they reached in April 1794.
The expedition had made detailed descriptions of the peoples and places they had visited
and had achieved many of its instructions. Much of the credit for the success of the
expedition was due to Billings's deputy, Gavriil Sarychev.
In August 1795, Billings was awarded the order of St Vladimir and financially rewarded
for his role in the expedition. He probably married his wife, Ekaterina (born 14 June
1772), about this time. Billings then joined the Russian fleet on the Black Sea in 1796
and was given command of the frigate Svyatoy Andrey. However, he soon returned to
St. Petersburg and remained there on official business until February 1797. Back at the
Black Sea, Billings commanded the gunboat Rozhdestvo Bogoroditsy and began
surveying the Crimean coast. He next resumed command of the Svyatoy Andrey and
stayed with her until March 1798 when he went back to the Rozhdestvo Bogoroditsy
and resumed surveying along the north coast of the Black Sea.
Billings was promoted Captain-commodore on 09 May 1799 but it appears sickness forced
his early retirement as he was discharged from the service on 28 November 1799 with full
pension. During the year he had published an atlas of charts of the Black Sea (Maps and
views of the Black Sea area belonging to the Russian empire, compiled by Fleet
Captain-Commodore Billings), which a review in 1916 stated:
Billings retired to Moscow to be with his wife, Ekaterina (née von Pestel). He died in
1806 aged 48. Ekaterina survived him and died at Moscow on 18 June 1827. Mys Billingsa,
a headland on the north coast of the Chukotskiy peninsula across the Proliv Longa from
Ostrov Vrangelya was named for him, as is a small settlement a few kilometers to the
west. A glacier, headland and creek in Prince William Sound, Alaska may have been named
for him but that is not certain.
This entry has been compiled with much assistance from John Appleby (for which many thanks)
and draws largely on personal communication, his entry about Billings in the Oxford
Dictionary of National Biography and Alekseev's article in the Geographical Journal.
Short bibliography.
Alekseev, A. I., Joseph Billings, Geographical Journal, 132 (2), 1966 June, pp.
233-238.
Thomas Bisset (or Bissett) was master of HMS Eagle while Cook was aboard the ship
from 1755. Bisset's will, written in August 1760 lists him as master of HMS
Stirling Castle, under Captain Michael Everitt. The will was proven two years
later in August 1762. The will left everything to his wife Jannet in the parish of New
Church in Plymouth. Little else is known about Bisset at this stage (March 2007). He
may have been of Scottish origin as there are records for many Bissets in Scotland,
including a marriage record for a Thomas Bisset with a Jannet Whittick in 1756 in Perth.
The will makes no mention of children.
While Cook make no mention of Bisset in his log, it is most probable that as the first master
on a Royal Navy ship that Cook served under, Bisset had a strong influence on Cook and
showed him how to behave as a warrant officer. Bisset remains perhaps the least known
and most neglected
of the group of men who shaped Cook's future.
I, Thomas Bisset, Master of His Majesty's Ship Stirling Castle, Captain
Michael Everitt, Commander, being in bodily health and of sound and disposing mind and
memory and considering the perils and dangers of the seas and other uncertainties of
this transitory life, do for avoiding controversies after my decease make, publish and
declare this my last will and testament in manner following:
That is to say first I recommend my soul to God that gave it and my body I commit to
the earth or sea as it shall please God to order and as for and concerning all my
worldly estate I give, bequeath and dispose thereof as followeth:
That is to say unto my beloved wife Jannet Bisset living in the parish of New Church,
Plymouth in the County of Devon, all my wages, sum and sums of money, lands, tenements,
goods, chattels and estate whatsoever as shall be anyways due, owing or belonging to me
at the time of my decease, I do give, devise and bequeath the same unto my beloved
wife Jannet Bisset living in the said place and I do hereby nominate and appoint my
beloved wife Jannet Bisset living in the said place to be sole executrix of this my
last will and testament, hereby revoking all former and other wills, testaments and
deeds of gift by me at any time hereforeto made and I do ordain and ratify those
presents to stand and be for and as my only last will and testament.
In witness thereof to this my said will I have set my hand and seal the twenty eighth
day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty and in the
thirty fourth year of the reign of His Majesty King George the Second over Great
Britain. Thomas Bisset.
Signed, sealed, published and declared in the presence of Michael Everitt, James
Butler, John Horsnaill.
This will was proved at London on the ninth day of August in the year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred and sixty two before the Right Worshipful Sir Edward Simpson,
Knight, Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of
Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Jannet Bisset, widow the relict of the
said deceased and sole executrix named in the said will to who administration of all
and singular, the goods and chattels and credits of the said deceased was granted. She
having both first sworn by commission duly to administer.
Notes for Bisset's will:
New Church, Plymouth was a popular name for Charles' Church, the church in the eastern
part of early Plymouth. The church was severely damaged in the Second World War and is
now the centre of a roundabout!
William Bligh sailed on the third voyage on the Resolution as master. During the
voyage, Bligh made many surveys and drew charts. After the voyage, Bligh was unhappy
that Henry Roberts was asked to prepare the charts for publication and Bligh was not
given credit for having compiled and drawn the originals.
Bligh was born at Tinten Manor, St. Tudy in Cornwall on 09 September 1754, the only son
of Francis and Jane Bligh. Bligh first went to sea in 1762 as a captain's personal
servant on board HMS Monmouth. He entered the Royal Navy at the age of 16 as an
able seaman, studying navigation and hydrography to become an accomplished seaman. From
July 1770 until August 1774, Bligh served on HMS Hunter and HMS Crescent.
In September 1775, Bligh joined the Ranger, from which he gained his lieutenant's
passing certificate on 01 May 1776. Bligh must have shown distinct ability in these
early postings, for in March 1776, when preparing for his third voyage of exploration to the
Pacific Ocean, Captain James Cook chose the still quite junior officer as master of the
Resolution. Bligh joined the ship on 20 March 1776.
For three years, Bligh oversaw the working of the Resolution, and assisted in the
navigation and charting of this immense voyage (1776-80), which explored the islands and
coastlines of the northern Pacific Ocean, and which saw Cook killed at Kealakekua Bay,
Hawai'i, in February 1779. Afterwards, Bligh was bitter that Captain James King did not
make what he considered to be proper acknowledgement of Bligh's contributions. He later
annotated a copy King's A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1784):
J. W. Croker, Secretary to the Admiralty, further annotated the book:
The notes, 76 of them, were reproduced in Rupert Gould's Bligh's Notes on Cook's Last
Voyage. (Mariner's Mirror. XIV, 1928. pp. 371-385).
An explanation in part for Bligh's comments probably rests with an animosity between
Bligh and King that was certainly perceived by Bligh. Bligh had little or no respect for
King, which was possibly reciprocated as Bligh was one of the few men not recommended
for advancement after the voyage. No log or journal of Bligh's for the voyage has been
found.
After the voyage, Bligh married Elizabeth Betham on the Isle of Man in February 1781. He
was then posted as master of HMS Belle Poule. Bligh was promoted to lieutenant in
1781 and served on HMS Cambridge from 1782 to 1783. Duncan Campbell, an uncle of
Elizabeth Bligh, was a wealthy shipowner who traded with the West Indies where he owned
several plantations. Bligh left the navy in 1783 to work on Campbell's ships until 1787.
He commanded the Lynx, the Britannia and the Cambrian on voyages to
the West Indies.
Breadfruit was seen as a potential food for slaves on the plantations in the West Indies
and it was decided to transport some plants there from the South Pacific where it had
been found. Campbell owned the Bethia, which was purchased by the Navy Board for
the breadfruit expedition and renamed HMS Bounty. Campbell knew Joseph Banks well
and probably recommended Bligh for the voyage. Bligh was given command of the
Bounty, which sailed on 23 December 1787.
When the Bounty arrived in Tahiti in 1788, the breadfruit trees had to be seeded
and grown into saplings large enough for transport, a process that would take at least
six months. Bligh opted to remain at the island and use the time for exploring. This
allowed his men time to form strong relationships with the islanders so they were most
reluctant to leave when the time came. In April 1789, a mutiny took place off Tofua in
Tonga, led by Fletcher Christian.
Bligh and 18 other crew members loyal to him were set adrift on 28 April in an open
longboat. Bligh's expert navigational skills enabled them to reach Timor in Indonesia in
June after a journey of 6,000 km. over 47 days. Bligh bought a schooner, renamed HMS
Resource in Timor and sailed it to Jakarta. He then took passage in the
Vlydte, a Dutch East Indiaman, which took him back to Britain. A court-martial
took place at Spithead, on 22 October 1790, which cleared Bligh and he resumed his naval
career. In December 1790, he was promoted to captain and given command of the sloop HMS
Falcon, followed by service on HMS Medea.
A second breadfruit voyage was commissioned and Bligh was given command. HMS Providence,
left Spithead on 03 August 1791 for Tahiti and successfully transported a cargo of
breadfruit plants to Jamaica. The precaution was taken of sending a companion vessel. This
was HMS Assistant, commanded by Nathaniel Portlock, who had sailed as master's mate with
Bligh on the Resolution. In 1794, Bligh was given the Society of Arts medal for
his remarkable feat of navigation during the longboat voyage. In 1801, he was made a
fellow of the Royal Society for services to navigation and botany.
Bligh had command of HMS Calcutta in 1795 before taking over HMS Director
in January 1796. He remained captain of the Director until 1801, taking part in
1797 in the Battle of Camperdown. In 1801, he was captain of HMS Glatton, which
was damaged in the Battle of Copenhagen. Bligh was commended by Nelson for his action
in the battle. After the battle, Bligh was made captain of HMS Irresistable, 74
guns, which he commanded until May 1802. From May 1804 until April 1805, Bligh captained
HMS Warrior.
In February 1806, Bligh set off for the new colony of New South Wales as Governor. Bligh
was given special instructions to sort out corruption including curbing traffic in
spirits. His actions and methods alienated many and Bligh was forcibly deposed in
January 1808 by Major George Johnston of the NSW Corps. Under arrest, Bligh remained in
the colony refusing to give up power until the arrival of his replacement, Macquarie,
who finally arrived in December 1809. In May 1810, Bligh returned to Britain where he
was cleared of all blame.
Bligh was a skilled seaman, navigator and surveyor but he had a high opinion of himself
and his own abilities, and he expected very high
standards in men under his command. However, he often felt he was let down and his
reactions, which could be very erratic, and his use of bad language, led to him being an
unpopular seaman and governor.
Bligh was promoted Rear Admiral of the Blue in 1810 and, in 1814, he became a Vice
Admiral of the Blue. In the latter years of his life, Bligh lived at the Manor House,
Farningham, Kent and died on 07 December 1817, aged 64, in Bond Street, London. He is
buried in Lambeth churchyard. He left a will (PROB 11/1603) and there is a short
biography in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
The Genus Blighia, which consists of some four species of evergreen tropical
shrubs and trees, is named in his honour. Several places around the world are named for
Bligh, including Bligh Island (in Nootka Sound), and Bligh's Island (in Prince William
Sound) visited on Cook's voyage.
I give and bequeath unto my daughter Harriet, the Wife of Henry Barker, the sum of one
hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain, to be paid to her as soon as
conveniently may be after my decease in order to in order to place her upon an equality
with my Daughter Mary Putland who has already received from me the sum of two hundred
pounds.
I give unto each of my four younger Daughters Elizabeth, Frances, Jane and Ann, the sum
of two hundred pounds to be paid or transferred to them upon their attaining the age of
twenty one years, or day of marriage with or without the consent of my dear Wife, which
shall first happen,
And I direct that the [ ] shall be invested in the public funds of Great Britain in
the names of my Executors and that the dividends to arose therefrom shall in the mean
time be paid be paid and applied in such manner as I shall hereinafter direct concerning
the dividends to arise from the Residue of my personal Estate I give and bequeath all
the Rest, Residue and Remainder of my personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and
wheresoever unto and for the use of the Right Honourable John Earl of Darnley and Dugall
Campbell of Saltspring Estate in the Island of Jamaica Esquire my Executors hereinafter
named, their executors, administrators and assigns upon trust nevertheless as soon as
conveniently may be after my decease absolutely to sell and dispose of all such parts of
my Personal Estate and Effects,(except as hereafter mentioned) as shall not consist of
money or securities for money and as shall be in their nature saleable by public
auction or private Contact and in such manner as they my said trustees shall think most
adviseable and also to derive and get in all debts and sums of money that shall be due
or owing to me at my decease, and to convert into money all other parts of my personal
Estate, and my will is and I direct that they , my said trustees and the survivor of
them his executors and administrators shall stand and be possessed of all the clear
monies arising from such sale or sales and to [ ] and got in as aforesaid together
with all other the Residue of my said personal Estate (after payment of my debts,
funeral and testamentary expences and legacies) Upon trust to lay out and invest the
same in their or his names or name in some or one of the Government Stocks or Funds of
Great Britain or other Government Securities and to stand and be possessed thereof upon
trust for and during the life of my said Wife to pay one moiety or equal half part of
the Dividends, interest and annual product of such Stocks, Funds or securities to my
said Wife for her own sole separate and independant use and not to be liable to the
debts, contracts or engagements of any husband with whom she may hereafter intermarry
and for which her receipt alone notwithstanding her Coverture shall be sufficient
discharge to my said Executors so as such receipt be signed and given by my said Wife
after the dividends shall become due and not by anticipation
And upon further trust, to pay and dispose of the remaining moiety or half part of such
dividends and interest unto and equally between my four younger Daughters Elizabeth,
Frances, Jane and Ann, or such of them as shall be unmarried at the time of my decease.
And I direct and declare that it shall and may be lawful for my said trustees upon the
marriage of any or either of my said four younger Daughters with the consent or my Wife
during her lifetime, to be testified by writing under her hand, to transfer to her or
them so marrying such share of and in the principal Stocks, Funds or securities to the
interest and dividends whereof she or they would be entitled under the trusts
hereinbefore declared during the life of my said Wife, but otherwise us transfer or
division of the said Stocks, funds or securities shall be made until after the death of
my said Wife as hereinafter directed and declared and from and after the decease of my
said Wife,
I direct that they my said Trustees and Executors and the survivor of them his executors
and administrators shall stand possessed of and interested in the said Stocks, funds and
securities to be purchased with the produce of my said Estate and the dividend, interest
and annual proceeds thereof in trust for all my Daughters Harriett Barker, Mary Putland,
Elizabeth Bligh, Frances Bligh, Jane Bligh, and Ann Bligh, or such of them as shall be
living, and the Issue of such as shall be dead, in equal parts, shares and proportions,
the shares of such of them as shall be living and shall have attained the age of twenty
one years or be married to be transferred to them immediately, and the shares of such of
them as shall be under the said age and unmarried to be transferred to them upon their
attaining the same or marrying, which shall first happen, and the interest and dividends
thereof in the mean time to be paid and applied in and towards their support and
maintenance, and the share or shares of the Issue of such of my said daughters as shall
be dead to be transferred to such issue respectively in equal proportions upon their
attaining the age of twenty one years, or if females upon them marrying before that age
and the interest dividends and annual produce in the mean time to be in vested in the
public funds to accumulate for his, her or their benefit and in case any or either of my
said daughters shall happen to die before her or their share or shares of and in the
said principal Stocks, funds and securities shall become payable or transferable
without leaving any lawful issue her or them surviving, I direct that such share or
shares of her or them so dying both as to the principal and as to the interest
dividends and annual proceeds thereof shall from and after her or their decease sink
into and be considered as part of the residue of my personal Estate and it is my Will
and I hereby further direct that the interest and dividends to become payable to my
Daughters under the bequest hereinbefore contained shall until they respectively attain
the age of twenty one years or marry before that age be paid to their Guardian or
Guardians for the time being for their support and maintenance,
And my Will is and I do declare that my said Executors shall permit and suffer my dear
Wife Elizabeth Bligh to have the use and occupation of my said Dwellinghouse with the
appurtenances in Durham Place aforesaid to reside therein with my unmarried Children for
and during the term of her natural life, if she shall so long continue a Widow, without
paying any rent or other compensation for the same to my said Executors, and from and
after her decease, or ceasing to be a Widow as aforesaid shall permit and suffer such of
my Daughters Elizabeth, Frances, Jane and Ann as shall be then single and unmarried and
such of them as shall respectively continue unmarried to have the like use and
occupation of my said Dwellinghouse with the appurtenances without paying any rent or
other compensation for the same until the youngest of my unmarried daughters shall
attain the age of twenty one years, and from and after the period last mentioned I
direct that the same shall sink into the residue of my personal Estate.
And I direct that the Ground rent and taxes of and for my said Dwellinghouse and its
appurtenances shall be paid and sustained by and out of my personal Estate. And my Will
is and I also direct that my said Executor shall within three months next after my
decease raise an Inventory in writing to be taken of all my household furniture, plate,
linen, china, books, pictures, prints, wines, liquors and other effects in my said
Dwelling house and shall permit the same to remain and continue therein to be used by my
said Wife and my Daughters, the occupier or occupiers of the said house for the time
being during such time as she or they shall reside in and occupy the said house and from
and after the expiration of the said trusts I direct that the said household furniture,
plate, linen, china, books, pictures, prints and other Effects shall sink into and
become part of the Residue of my personal Estate, but I direct and declare that it shall
and may be lawful to and for my said Executors, Trustees at any time after the decease
of my said Wife, or her marrying again and before the youngest of my Daughters unmarried
shall have attained the age of twenty one years with the consent and approbation of such
of my Daughters intitled to the use and occupation of my said Dwellinghouse, furniture
and effects who shall have attained the age of twenty one years and of the Guardian of
such of my said Daughters who shall be under that age to sell and dispose of the said
house, furniture and effects and to lay out and invest the monies arising by such sale
deducting the expences attending the same in the public funds or upon Government
securities in trust to pay, apply and dispose on the dividends, interest and annual
produce thereof from time to time unto and amongst all my Daughters who would have been
intitled to the use and occupation of the said Dwelling House and Effects under the
trusts aforesaid in equal shares and proportions for such time only as they would have
been intitled to such use and occupation, and from and after the expiration of the
trust lastly hereinbefore declared I direct that the Stocks, funds and securities so to
be purchased as aforesaid and the Dividends interest and annual produce thereof shall go
in such monies as is herein directed of and concerning the said house and Effects in
case the sale thereof had been delayed until the youngest of my Daughters unmarried
shall have attained the age of twenty one years.
And it is my Will that my said Executors shall be at liberty to proceed to the sale of
my premises in the Parish of Marylebone in the County of Middlesex or not as they may
think fit
And I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint the said Earl of Darnley and Dugall
Campbell Executors of this my Will and my said dear Wife Elizabeth during her life, and
after her death the said Earl of Darnley and Dugal Campbell Guardian and Guardians of my
Infant and unmarried children and my Will is and I do hereby declare that the receipt
and receipts of my said Trustees or the survivor of them or the heirs and executors or
administrators of such survivor shall be good and sufficient discharge or good and
sufficient discharges to the purchaser or purchasers of all or any part of my said Real
and Personal Estate and his, her or their heirs executors and administrators for the
money to arise from the sale thereof and that such purchaser or purchasers shall not be
answerable or accountable for any loss misapplication or nonapplication of the said
purchase money or any part thereof or be obliged to see to the application and
disposition thereof or of any part thereof and I direct that they my said Trustees
Executors or either of them their or either of their heirs executors or administrators
shall not be charged with or accountable for any more of the trust monies Estates and
Premises than they respectively shall actually receive or shall come to their respective
hands by virtue of this my Will nor with or for any loss that shall happen to the same
or any part thereof so as such loss happen without their wilful default nor one of them
for the other of them or for the acts, deeds, receipts or disbursements of the other of
them but each of them only for his own acts, deeds, receipts or disbursements.
And also that it shall and may be lawful for them my said Trustees and Executors and
each of them their and each of their heirs executors and administrators in the first
place by and out of the trust Estates monies and premises to deduct retain to and
reimburse him and themselves all such loss, costs, charges and expences as they or
either of them shall respectively sustain expend or be put unto by reason of the trusts
hereby in them reposed or the execution thereof at any time relating thereto.
And lastly I hereby revoke annul and make void all and every former and other Will and
Wills by me at any time heretofore made and declare this to be my last Will and
Testament. In Witness whereof I the said William Bligh have hereunto and to two other
parts of this my last Will and Testament contained in six sheets of paper set my hand to
the first five sheets thereof and to the sixth and last sheet thereof my hand and seal
this twenty fourth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
five. Wm. Bligh.
Signed, Sealed Published and Declared by the within named Testator William Bligh
as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at
his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto and to two other parts
thereof set our hands as Witnesses, R Gatty, Angel Court, Throgmorton Street, Tho.
Gatty his Clerk.
On the 20th April 1818 Admon. (Williamo) of the Goods & P of William Bligh of Farmingham
House in the Co.of Kent Esqr. a Vice Admiral of the Blue in his Majesty's Navy, deceased,
was granted to Harriett Maria (in the Will written Harriett) Barker (Wife of Henry Aston
Barker Esqr.) Elizabeth Bligh (Wife of Richard Bligh Esqr.) & Frances Bligh Spr. the
Daurs. & three of the Exors Legatees being first sworn duly to Admr. - The Rt. Honble
John Earl of Darnley the survg. Exor. & survg. Residl. Legatee in trust named in the Will
having first renounced, and Elizabeth Bligh the Wife of the Testator & Residl. Legatee for
life, dying in his lifetime.
John Bootie was baptised on 25 February 1750 at St Martin in the Fields, London, the
son of John and Magdalen (née Pain Vin) Bootie, who had married at St. Martin in the
Fields on 06 September 1741. John had a brother (Peter) and two sisters (Esther and
Mary).
Bootie joined the Endeavour on 01 June 1768 as a midshipman. Sadly, he was one
of the many casualties of the diseases contracted on Java, dying as they crossed the
Indian Ocean on 04 February 1771. He kept a log and a journal (Adm 51/4546/134-5,
Journal, 27 May 1768 to 03 September 1770; Adm 51/4546/136-9, Log, 01 June 1768 to 01
March 1770). A section of his journal is reproduced in the Historical records of New
South Wales, vol. 1, part 1: Cook 1762-1780. Beaglehole comments about Bootie's
writing:
Part of Zachary Hicks's log was written by Bootie suggesting a close working
relationship between the two. However, Bootie may not have been totally happy on board
as he inscribed his own rough log "A Log Book of the Proceedings By John Bootie,
Masters Brute" and he wrote of Nicholas Young:
Bootie islet off the north Queensland coast was named much later for him.
John Bostock was an AB on board the Resolution during the third voyage.
According to the muster he was 25 years old when he joined the ship at Plymouth on
07 July 1776. No family is mentioned in his will (PROB 11/1120).
If, in fact it is the will of the John Bostock who sailed with Cook, it was written
on 09 December 1780, only a short time after the Resolution's return to the
River Thames.
First and principally I commend my soul into the hands of almighty God hoping for
remission of all my sins through the merits of Jesus Christ, my blessed saviour and
redeemer and my body to the earth or sea as it shall please God.
And as for such worldly estate and effects which I shall be possessed of or entitled
unto at the time of my decease I give and bequeath the same as followeth, that is to
say:
I give and bequeath unto my friend Wm. Edwards of Greenwich, blacksmith, all such
wages, sum and sums of money as now is or hereafter shall be due to me for my service
or otherwise on board the said ship or any other ship or vessel.
And I do hereby nominate and appoint Wm. Edwards of Greenwich, blacksmith, executor
of this my last will and testament. And I do give and bequeath unto my said executor
all the rest and residue of my estate whatsoever both real and personal hereby
revoking and making void all other and former wills by me heretofore made and I do
declare this to be my last will and testament.
In witness whereof to this my said will I have hereunto set my hand and seal the
ninth day of December in this year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty
and in the twenty first year of the reign of our sovereign Lord, George the Third, by
the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith.
John Bostock. SS. Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said John
Bostock, the testator, as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us,
who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the said
testator. Evelyn Sutton, Captn. Jas Harrison, clerk.
This will was proved at London the nineteenth day of August in the year of our Lord
one thousand seven hundred and eighty four before the Worshipful George Davis, Doctor
of Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, lawfully
constituted by the oath of William Edwards, the sole executor named in the said will
to whom administration was granted of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits
of the deceased, having been first sworn duly to administer.
Temporary entry May 2007
Matthew Brown joined Cook's second voyage on the Adventure on 27 March 1772 as
armourer. He replaced Edward Ireland who had run. He was born in York about 1746.
Temporary entry May 2007
William Brown joined the Resolution for the third voyage on 10 February 1776 as an AB.
He became gunner's mate on 12 March 1776.
Brown was born in Stromness, Orkney about 1752. He was interviewed years later.
William Adams
William Adams (?-1763?).Aneas Aitken
Aneas Aitken (1742-1806).
Aneas Atkins, boatswain, and Peter Reynolds, carpenter, both late of
Resolution, Atkins now boatswain Favourite, and Reynolds carpenter Ariadne, but both
have appli'd to me and are very desirous of the other trip to the South Seas.
Wore ship, stron gales with a heavy Sea at 1 [am]. In a very heavy
gust of wind, the fore & Main tacks gave way, which kill'd John McIntosh Seaman
& very much hurt the Boatswn [Aitken] & others.
The will of Aneas Aitken proven on 30 December 1806
(PROB 11/1452)).
In the Name of God Amen, I Aneas Aitken, Boatswain of His Majesty's Ship
Africa, Thomas Newnhan Esqr. Commander, being in Bodily health and of sound and
disposing mind and memory, and considering the perils and dangers of the Seas and other
uncertainties of this Transitory life, do for avoiding Controversies after my decease,
make, publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner following, that is
to say -
John Allen
John Allen (? -1779).
The will of John Allen proven on 24 September 1782 (PROB
11/1095).
In the name of God, amen, I, John Allen, private marine in the 58th Company of the
Plymouth Division, being of sound and disposing mind and memory and considering the
uncertainties of this transitory life do, for avoiding controversies after my decease,
make, publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner following, that is
to say:
Robert Anderson
Robert Anderson (1742-?).
The ships of Robert Anderson.
Robert Anderson served on the following ships associated with
Cook
First
Endeavour
AB, quartermaster
Scorpion
Quartermaster
Second
Resolution
Gunner
Third
Resolution
Gunner
James Cook to Admiralty Secretary 18 September 1775. Adm 1/1610.
Enclosed letter from Robert Anderson to James Cook.
William Anderson
William Anderson (1750-1778).
He was a sensible young man, an agreeable companion, well skilled in
his profession ... and to perpetuate the memory of the deceased for whom I
had a very great regard, I named [it] Andersons Island.
Genealogical information.
William Anderson's parents were Robert Anderson and Jean Melvil, who
married at North Berwick, East Lothian in Scotland on 28 July 1744.
Robert
b. 14 July 1745, bap. 15 July 1745
Anne
bap. 05 March 1747
Elizabeth
bap. 27 March 1749
William
b. 28 December 1750, bap. 02 January 1751
Marion
bap. 15 November 1752
Jean
bap. 30 August 1754
Robinah
?
No baptism record has been found for Robinah Anderson but she is
mentioned by Anderson in his will. A Robinah Anderson (born 1748 or 1755) was
married to James Fulton on
02 February 1776 at Coldingham, Berwick, Scotland. This may have been William
Anderson's sister.
The will of William Anderson proven on 14 November 1780
(PROB 11/1070).
In the Name of God Amen, I Wm. Anderson, Surgeon of his majesty's Sloop Resolution,
having been for some time past in a Bad State of Health and not without any prospect of
Recovery, have resolved to make my last Will and Testament hereby annulling every other
Will or Testament made by me heretofore and that in the following manner -
Thomas Andrews
Thomas Whitton Andrews (?-1813).
Genealogical information.
A son, Magnus Whitton Andrews married Maria Day on 18 August
1831 in Watford, Hertfordshire.
The will of Thomas Whitton Andrews proven on 17 February 1814
(PROB 11/1551).
This is the last Will and Testament of me Thomas Whitton Andrews
of Brompton in the Parish of Gillingham in the County of Kent, Surgeon, which I make,
publish & declare in manner following
Noble Arrowsmith
Noble Arrowsmith (1749-1780/1).
The will of Noble Arrowsmith proven on 03 May 1781
(PROB 11/1077).
In the Name of God Amen, I Noble Arrowsmith, belonging to his Majesty's Ship
Resourse, Patrick Fothringham Esqr. Commander, being of sound and disposing Mind and
Memory do hereby make this my last Will and Testament
John Baptisto
John Baptisto (?-1797).
The will of John Baptisto (otherwise Baptist) proven on 14
October 1797 (PROB 11/1296).
In the Name of God Amen, I John Baptisto, Cook of His Majesty's Ship
Swiftsure, Number 35 on the Ships Books, being in bodily Health and of Sound and
Disposing mind and memory, and considering the Perils and Dangers of the Seas and other
uncertainties of this transitory Life do, for avoiding controversies after my Decease,
make, publish and declare this my Last Will and Testament in manner following, that is
to say -
Robert Barber
Robert Barber (1749-1783).
The will of Robert Barber proven on 20 July 1783 (PROB 11/1105).
In the Name of God Amen, I Robert Barber, Master of his Majesty's Ship the
Mercury, now lying at Deptford in Kent, being in bodily health and of sound and
disposing mind and memory, and considering the perils and dangers of the Seas and other
uncertainties of this Transitory Life, do for avoiding Controversies after my decease,
make, publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner following, that is
to say -
Edward Barrett
Edward Barrett (~1756-178m).Nathaniel Bateman
Nathaniel Bateman (?-?).
Nathaniel Bateman...had been raised from the lower deck as a reward for
conspicuous gallantry - in his case during Mathews' ill-starred Battle of Toulon
[in 1744]William Bayly
William Bayly (?-1811).
The will of William Bayly proven on 11 February 1811
(PROB 11/1519).
This is the last Will and Testament of me William Bayly, late First Master of the
Royal Academy in his Majesty's Dock Yard near Portsmouth and now residing near Portsea
in the County of Southampton. Whereby I humbly commend my Soul to God to dispose of all
my Worldly Estate & Effects in manner following, that is to say
D Howard Chas. Fidlin
D Howard Chas. FidlinRobert Beard
Robert Beard (?-1780).
The will of Robert Beard proven on 17 August 1781
(PROB 11/1080).
In the Name of God Amen, I Robert Beard, Serjeant of Marines on board his
Majesty's Ship Thunderer, The Honorable Robert Boyle Walsingham Commr. being in
bodily health and of sound and disposing mind and memory, and considering the perils
and dangers of the Seas and other uncertainties of this transitory life, do for avoiding
controversies after my decease, make, publish and declare this my last Will and
Testament in manner following, that is to say
William Bee
William Bee (~1747-1799).
The Will of William Bee proven on 27 July 1799 (PROB 11/1326).
In the Name of God Amen, I William Bee of Deptford in the County of Kent,
Mariner, do hereby make my Will (that is to say) I will and direct that all my Effects
whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature and kind ** after payment of my Just
Debts & Funeral Charges ) may go and belong to my Eldest Daughter Mary Bee, as also
such of my Annual Stipend or Salary Payable from Government as a Superannuated Gunner
as may be due at the time of my decease, the same to be for her sole and seperate use
and benefit, hereby revoking all former and other wills by me at any time heretofore
made, and do publish and declare this only to be my last Will and Testament, hereof
constituting and appointing Mr John Bee of Bankside, Coal Merchant, Sole Executor.
Gregory Bentham
Gregory Bentham (1743- ).
Genealogical information.
Bryan Bentham (born 1657) married Ann Gregory, the daughter of Jeremy Gregory, on 17 March 1681 at St. Michael Cornhill, London. Bryan Bentham was Master of the Clothworkers' Company. Bryan and Ann Bentham had the following children, baptised at St. Botolph without Aldgate:
Bryan
1682
Jeremiah
1683
1741
Elizabeth
1684
Charles
1685
Gregory
July 1690
Bryan Bentham married Mary Belke on 27 August 1713. Bryan was Clerk of
HM Ropeyard at Chatham in 1726. When he died in 1748 he was Clerk of the Cheque at
Sheerness. His will (PROB 11/765 proven 17 October 1748).
Gregory Bentham married Ann Sharpcliff in 1717 at St George Botolph
Lane. He the probably remarried, this time to a Sarah. Gregory and Sarah Bentham
had the following children, all baptised at Sheerness:
Gregory
03 July 1743
Mary
June 1746
Ann (I)
14 April 1748
Before 1755
Timewell
01 July 1751
Elizabeth
13 September 1753
Ann (II)
05 January 1755
Bryan
15 February 1758
Joseph Billings
Joseph Billings(1758-1806).
The vice-president of the Board of Admiralties, Count Chernyshev, put forward a letter
from Simolin, the minister in England, concerning the desire of an English warrant
officer, Joseph Billings, to enter Russian service with the same rank, the appointment
to run from the date of his departure from Gravesend; after 4 or 5 months at that rank
he is to receive the rank of lieutenant, but if health or a recall the the English admiralty
oblige him to leave the service, he would be permitted to return to his native
country.
...went to live with him [Billings] at his lodgings as one of his
family and his friend.
In Yakutsk we found to our great surprise, MR. Ledyard, an old companion of Captain
Billings in Cook's voyage round the world; he then served in the capacity of corporal but
now called himself an American Colonel, and wished to cross over to the American
Continent with our Expedition, for the purpose of exploring it on foot.
The maps of Billings, which excelled all previous ones in accuracy,
were already a fine guide for sailing the shores of the Crimea.
Appleby, John A., Billings, Joseph (c.1758-1806), Oxford Dictionary of National
Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Oct 2005
[http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/2390, accessed 19 Aug 2006].
Sarychev, Gavriil. Account of a voyage of discovery to the north-east of Siberia, the
frozen ocean, and the north-east sea. London: Printed for R. Phillips by J. G.
Barnard, 1806-07.
Sauer, Martin. An account of a geographical and astronomical expedition to the northern
parts of Russia by Commodore Joseph Billings in the years 1785 to 1794. London: 1802.Thomas Bisset
Thomas Bisset (?-1762).
The will of Thomas Bisset proven on 09 August 1762 (PROB 11/878).
In the name of God, amen
John Horsnaill, one of the witnesses to the will, was clerk to Hugh Palliser from 1764
in Newfoundland and, as such, wrote the letters of command sent to James Cook.William Bligh
William Bligh (1754-1817).
None of the Maps and Charts in this publication are from the original drawings of Lieutenant
Henry Roberts; he did no more than copy the original ones from Captain Cook, who besides
myself was the only person that surveyed and laid the coast down, in the Resolution. Every
plan & Chart from C. Cook's death are exact Copies of my Works. (marginalia in the copy in
the Admiralty library)
This copy of Cook's last voyage belonged to William Bligh Master of the Resolution who has
made some marginal notes, which must be read with grains of allowance for his temper and
prejudices. He afterwards became a flag officer.
The will of William Bligh proven on 20 April 1818 (PROB 11/1603).
This is the last Will and Testament of me William Bligh of Durham Place, Lambeth
in the County of Surrey, Esquire, Captain in his Majesty's Navy and also Governor General
and Commander in Chief in and over his Majesty's Colony of New South Wales. I direct
that all my just debts and funeral and testamentary expences be in the first place paid
and satisfied out of my personal Estate as soon as conveniently may be after my decease.
John Bootie
John Bootie (1750-1771).
Bootie is one of those few people who manage to convey personality.
Evil communications corrupt good manners N Young is a son of a Bitch.
Genealogical information.
John Bootie was baptised on 25 February 1750 at St Martin in the
Fields, London. His parents were John and Magdalen (née Pain Vin) Bootie who
married at St. Martin in the Fields on 06 September 1741. They had the
following children:
Peter
09 January 1743
Esther
30 April 1747
Mary
05 February 1748
John
25 February 1750
John Bootie senior possibly died in 1772. There is a will PROB 11/979
proven 16 July 1772 for a John Bootie, brazier in London.
Mary Bootie married John Whitehead on 19 November 1769.
John Bostock
John Bostock (~1751-1784).
The will of John Bostock proven on 19 August 1784 (11/1120).
In the name of God, amen, I, John Bostock, corporal on board
His Majesty's Ship Isis, being of sound and disposing mind and memory do hereby make
this my last will and testament.
Matthew Brown
Matthew Brown (~17bb-?).William Brown
William Brown (~1752-?).